Guide tube operating means for glass feeders



Jan. 12, 1954 H. A. YOUKERS ET AL 2,665,525 GUIDE TUBE OPERATING MEANS FOR.GLASS FEEDERS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l hvvs A/ro E6; 149M040 HJ/OUKEES wan-"R 1 VIERLI/VG,

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1954 H. A. YOUKERS ETAL 2,655,525

GUIDE TUBE OPERATING MEANS FOR GLASS FEEDERS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 74 I 75 I02 I I 6 8 103 7 II 0 1 5 7 45 I wzzs 22 93 52? 2146?; we 70 9 y 46 41 3 551W ,Wifl

44 I 7' HTT'oRA/E/ Jan. .12, 1954 YQUKERs ETAL 2,665,525

GUIDE TUBE OPERATING MEANS FOR GLASS FEEDERS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 #2 m8 I j 127 /4 ma Z3 I36 I 12/ /32 I. VIII/Ill l E V IIJIIIIIIIIl-I II I 1111-1111, I

, 977-0 2 NEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1954 GUIDE TUBE |PERATING MEANS FOR GLASS FEEDERS Harold A. Yonkers, Anderson, Ind., and Walter V. Vierling, Knox, Pa., assignors of one-half to Henry C. Daubenspeck, Massillon, Ohio, and one-half to Samuel E. Winder, West Medway,

Mass.

Application August 5, 1950, Serial N 0. 177,856

24 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an operating means for guide tubes that may be used with glass feeders to direct the glass charge properly from the feeder into the mold below the feeder. Such a glass feeder tube and related operating mechanisms are shown in copending application Serial No. 688,471, filed August 5, 1946, in the name of Samuel E. Winder, said application having since matured into Patent N 0. 2,598,955, dated June 3, 1952.

In general, this type of feeder tube is used with the gob type of glass feeders, by which a series of separated charges are delivered from the stationary feeder to a rotating or otherwise moving series of glass molds that are located some distance below the outlet of the feeder. In view of the fact that the glass charge or gob must descend vertically by gravity, and yet must properly enter a mold that is moving laterally or arouately, and cleanly descend to the bottom of its mold cavity, the function of the feeder tube is to translate the vertical movement into a movement having a lateral component that will give a lateral movement to the descending gob that is substantially similar to the lateral movement of the successive glass molds as they enter the positions in which they are to be charged.

As set forth in the other application mentioned, the present feeder tube is mounted in trunnions at its upper end, which upper end is disposed immediately below the shears that are associated with the glass feeder. In addition, there is a mechanism that engages the tube below the trunnions so as to swing its lower end in an are about the trunnions. This operating mechanism is synchronized with the rotating table of the glass molding machine so that the tube swings over the path of movement of the mold table; and furthermore, the synchronization is such that the tube swings with each successive mold for a limited angular movement of the mold, at which time the charge of glass is dropped. By this arrangement, the charge of glass is given a lateral component so that it will descend cleanly into the lower end of the blank mold despite the lateral component of movement of the mold. After the discharge of the glass into the mold, the lower end of the tube is brought rapidly back so that it may perform a similar function in connection with a successive mold that moves across the charging path. I

It will be evident that, with the tube thus swinging in a path that more or less coincides with part of the path of the molds, there is always a chance that the tube may be struck by part of the moving molding machine if its various operating elements are, for some reason, abnormally positioned. The present invention has means to gages the tube to rock it back and forth which consists of a jaw-like device that can come open to release the tube under the influence of certain forces that could be applied to it by an irregularly operating molding machine. Secondly, the operating means for the tube includes a head that is mounted at the top of a column. Its mounting is such that it can be swiveled, but is normally held against such swiveling by a shear plate. If a heavy force acts against the projecting parts of the head of the machine or against the tube, the shear plate is broken, whereupon the head of the tube operating mechanism swivels around, freeing itself from the tube and permitting'the tube to swing freely until the molding machine parts clear it. In conjunction with this shear plate mechanism is a safety switch, which in turn deenergizes the control switch magnet and allows the main drive motor brake to decelerate the machine and bring it to a safe stop. The foregoing safety arrangement is one that operates despite the fact that power is transmitted through the connection between the column of the tube operating means and the head thereon.

lflnother feature of the present invention that constitutes an improvement over the former application referred to lies in the mechanism for synchronizing and adjusting the tube swinging elements with the driving means for the mold table. This adjusting mechanism of the present application can be operated while the various parts are in movement. Thus, the adjustment can be made so as to time the tube swinging precisely with the movement of the molds, and particularly, in any desired relative position with the mold, as dictated by fabrication requirements. p p In'addition to the foregoing adjustment, the

present invention has an improved means for preliminary adjustment of the swinging device, by means of which the tube engaging parts thereof can be adjusted radially outward or inwardi with respect to the column and locked in adjusted position. This permits a proper set-up of the column with respect to the table of the molding machine and with respect to the feeder to be made.

There are a number of other improvements in this guide tube operating means which will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism with the guide tube shown in section;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the guide tube operating means showing the shears of the feeder in section, the guide tube partly in section, and the column partly in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational fragment taken from the side of the column at approximately the line 33 of Figure 2, showing a control switch and parts of the shear plate arrangement; V

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section of part of the adiusting means for the guidetube operating means;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view'showing the relationship of the gearing for the guide tube head ad usting means;

Figure 6 is a diametrical section through the adiusting gearing and through the head of the guide tube operating means; taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a similar section but taken on the line 1-'l of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a similar section but taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the pi ot mounting of the cam driven rocker arm, taken on the line 99 about the middle of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the connecting link between the bell crank and the slide, taken approximately on the line Iii-40 of Figure 1 and partly foreshortened;

Figure 11 is a transverse section through the cam roller mounting of the bell crank arm;

Figure 12 is an elevational view of the slide and associated parts, taken approximately on the line l2-l2 at the right side of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a horizontal section through the slide and its air drive mechanism, taken on the line I3l3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a vertical section through one of the ad usting means for the tube engaging arm mounted on the slide, taken approximately on the line MM of Figure 121;

Figure 15 is a vertical section through the locking means for the ad ustment of Figure 14, taken on the line l5-!5 at the right of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a sectional view showing a detent for holding the tube engaging jaws in predetermined position; and taken approximately on the line l5|6 of Figure 1;

Figure 1'! is a horizontal section showing the shear plate parts, taken on the line I1l1 of Figure 3;

Figure 18 is a similar section taken on the line |8|8 of Figure 3;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the shear plate; V

Figure '20 is a plan view of a shear plate molding block;

Figure 21 is a plan view of one of the shear plate mounting members;

Figure 22 is a plan view of the main head member;

Figure 23 is a plan View of the slide cover;

Figure 24 is an elevation of the main head member, taken from the left side of the head member as it appears in Figure 22;

Figure 25 is a view of the detent pin or plug for holding the jaws shown in Figure 16;

Figure 26 is a view of the clamping sleeves for clamping the tube engaging arm;

Figure 2'7 is an elevational view partly broken away of one of the tube engaging arms or jaws;

Figure 28 is a similar view partly in section of the other of the two tube engaging jaws; and

Figure 29 is a top plan view of a flanged bush- Reference particularly to Figures 1 and 2 shows that there is a glass feeding guide tube 35 that is mounted on trunnions 36 at its upper end, by means of which it may rock back and forth generally in a plane. The upper end of the tube is disposed slightly below two shear blades 31 that are conventionally used in connection with gob type glass feeders to sever a depending mass or gob of'glass just below the forehearth of the glass melting furnace. This gob of glass, shown in full lines at G just as it enters the mold M, is also shown in dotted lines at the point of severance as it is ready to enter the guide tube 35. It will be understood that the mold M is normally traveling in an are about a vertical axis that is to the right of Figure 2, so that it is disposed below the shears 31 and the other parts of the feeder for only a moment in its circular travel. The guide tube 35 is required to insure that the charge G of glass will descend cleanly to the bottom of the cavity of the mold. As the mold has a lateral component of movement, the gob G must be given a lateral component of movement lest it be compressed against the walls of the mold cavity as soon as it enters the mold. It is a function of the guide tube 35 and its swinging mechanism to impart the gob G a proper lateral component of movement so that it will descend cleanly to the bottom of the mold cavity.

To accomplish the foregoing object, the tube 35, which is of any suitable length, can be rocked on its trunnions 36 so that it may describe a path that is in a plane tangential to the circle of the mold cavities. With the trunnions at the top of the tube, there is little movement of the inlet of the tube, so that it is always in position to receive a charge of glass. As the charge descends through the tube, however, it is required to follow the swinging movements of the lower part of the tube. When the rocking is properly adjusted with the rotation of the molding machine, the bottom end of the guide tube 35 will move at least momentarily in substantial coincidence with the path of movement of the mold. Hence, at the instantthe charge leaves the tube and descends into the mold, it is moving both downward and laterally, the lateral component sub stantially coinciding with the direction of movement of the mold, so that the charge will drop cleanly into the bottom of the mold. The foregoing is explained in the previous application mentioned. 7

Thus it will be seen that as the guide tube 35 is rocked, it can be adjusted while the machine is in motion and the point of synchronization with the rotation of the molding machine can be selected as may be dictated by the glass fabrication requirements of the job in hand. This adjustment of the rocking means constitutes the principal subject of the present invention.

Referring especially to Figure 2, there is a base 40 that may constitute a projection from the base of the molding machine itself, as shown in the other application. A supporting column 4| is mounted on this projection 40, and supports a vertical driving shaft 42. This driving shaft extends into the base and has a chain drive connection 43 to a driving means (such as a motor 38 depicted schematically in Fig. 3) that preferably synchronizes the rotation of the shaft 42 with the drive of the glass machine that rotates the mold M.

The upper end of the column 4|, as shown particularly in Figure 6, is machined circularly so as to receive a vertical sleeve 44, which sleeve bearing is preferably an integral part of a head casting 45. An appropriate frictionless bearing 46 may be provided to take the vertical load of the head, so that the head may rotate about the axis of the column 4|.

As previously suggested, the head casting is designed to be held in fixed angular position with respect to the column under all normal operating conditions; but it is also designed to be broken loose so that it can be rotated in the event some part of the molding machine strikes a projecting part of the tube swinging mechanism. This is provided by a shear plate arrangement. The shear plate arrangement includes a fiat pad 48 on the column to which a shear block 49 is fastened by screws 50. Designed to be just above the flat pad 48, the rotatable head has a pad 5|, shown particularly in Figures 24 and 17, to which a block- 52 is fastened by screws 53.

Reference to Figures 3, 17 and 18 will show that the two blocks 49 and 52 have angularly projecting edges 55 and 56 that can be disposed one above the other in a common vertical plane. A shear plate 51 is clamped in vertical position across these two edges 55 and 56, and is bolted into place by two identical clamp blocks 58. The lower of the clamp blocks 58 is fastened across the end of the shear block 49 by a screw 59, and the upper of the two clamp blocks 5-8 is similarly fastened by a screw 60 to the upper shear block 52. The parts may be grooved, as illustrated, to enclose the shear plate 51. By this arrangement, the shear plate holds the head against rotation with respect to the column 4|, but can be sheared by torsional force applied to the head, so that the head may rotate about the bearing 44, 46.

In addition to the shear arrangement, the foregoing parts are associated with a safety switch control. Figure 3 shows that the upper shear block 52 has a depending arm 62 that depends below the other shear block 49, and is in position to engage the operating button 63 of a control switch 64 that is mounted upon the pad 48 of the column 4!. Thus, if a movement of the head 45 to the right in Figure 3 should occur, breaking the shear plate 51, the button 63 will be released and it can, by familiar switch action, open the switch 64 to deenergize the driving motor 38 of the molding machine. This will stop the parts and prevent further damage. If the mechanism is used in connection with a synchronizer such as shown in copending application Serial No. 734,114, filed March 12, 1947, in the name of Samuel E. Winder, now patent No. 2,540,154 bearing date of February 6, 1951, the feeder can be continued in operation but theforming machine stops. .Otherwise, the practice would be to stop the entire machinery to prevent any further damage of any kind.

The head casting 45, as previously mentioned, constitutes the primary supporting means for the operating mechanisms for rocking the guide tube, and it translates the rotating movements of the shaft 42 into a reciprocating movement that, in

turn, causes the tube 35 to move back and forth- 'An adjustable synchronizing drive means is shown particularly in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The casting 45 has a recess 10 in it that constitutes a gear box, into the lower end of which the driving shaft 42 projects. A circular cover H is held by screws to close the top of the gear box 18. This cover 1i supports an output shaft 12 that is mounted in suitable bearing 13 for frictionless rotation, The two shafts are coaxial. Adjusting gearing is located in the gear box 10 and is designed to change the angular relationship between the shafts 42 and 12 at any given time.

The gearing includes a gear '14 that is secured to the upper end of the driving shaft 42 to rotate therewith. The gear 14 is th driving. gear of a system that is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5, wherein the parts are slightly displaced and modified in size to clarify the illustration. In Figure 5, the gear 14 is the central solid circle. It is adapted to mesh with two gears 15 and 16, illustrated by solid lines, which, in turn, mesh with two gears H and 78 that are shown in dashed lines. The two gears 11 and 18, in turn, mesh with a gear 19 also shown in dashed lines. Thus, in any position of adjustment, the drive is from the gear 14 to the gears 15 and I6, and from them to the gears 11 and 18, respectively, which finally mesh with the gear 19. The driven shaft 12 rotates oppositely to the drive shaft 42.

The particular arrangement of the foregoing gears will now be described.

The gear 14 is shown in Figures '7 and 8 as fixed to the shaft 42, and the gear 19 is similarly mounted on the shaft '12. A ring 88 is rotatably supported on a center hub portion of the gear case 10 at the bottom thereof. There is a corresponding hub on the cover H for the gear case, and this hub rotatably supports a relatively large worm gear 8| which has a ring 82 pinned to it.

The rings 80 and 82 support four vertical shafts 83, 84, '85 and 86. The assembly of the rings 80 and 82, and the shafts, constitutes a planetary cage, the gear system being of the planetary type in which the cage is normally fixed.

The shaft 83 supports the gear 15. As Figure 7 shows, this gear has teeth on its lower two-thirds, which thereby cause it to be in mesh with the gear 14 but out of mesh with the gear 19. Figure 8 shows that the shaft 84 has a similar arrangement for the gear 16, which also is driven from the gear 14.

Figure '7 also shows that the gear 18 is mounted upon the shaft 85 with its upper two-thirds provided with teeth and its lower third clear, so that it meshes with the driven gear 19 but not with the driving gear 14. Figure 8 shows that the shaft 86 supports the gear 11, which, like the gear 18, is in mesh with the driven gear 19 but is clear of the gear F4.

The middle thirds of the two gears 15 and 11 are in mesh; as are the middle thirds of the gears 16 and 18. The drive is from the gear 74 to the two gears 15 and 16, from the two latter gears through theirmiddle thirds to the gears 1'! and 18, and from the latter two gears to the driven gear 18 and the output shaft 12. i

The large worm gear 8| can be adjusted around its hub at the center of the cover H, which is around the axis of the two shafts 42 and 12. To this end,'the gear case 45 has an extension 88 shown in Figures 4 and 22, covered by a cap 89, which receives a worm shaft 90 having a worm 8| thereon engaged with the worm gear 8|. A

handle 92 is provided for rotation of the worm SI. When the worm is rotated, the worm gear 8| will be rotated which will displace the rings 80 and 82, and with them the four shafts 83, 84, 85 and 85. If it be assumed at this time that the shaft 42 is stationary, then such rotation will cause a displacement of the several shafts 83-86 around the axis of the main shaft 42. During such rotation, they will roll over the driving gear M, and will drive the shaft 12 so as to change the angular relation thereof with. respect to any given position of the shaft 42.

The shaft i2 has a cam 95 keyed to its upper end outside of the gear case cover II. This cam is adapted to rock a bell crank arm 96. The bell crank arm has a hub 21 mounted with frictionless bearings upon a rocking pin 98, illustrated in Figure 9, for which a suitable pad 99 is provided on the main casting 45 (Figure 22).

The cam roller arm of the bell crank 95 is designated at IEI. Figure 11 shows this arm as having a cam roller I 82 supported below it and at its ends. A headed pin I03 passes through the roller 18?. and a spacer bushing I04, the parts being held together by a suitable nut arrangement I25. The roller it; is at an elevation to be engaged by the edge of the cam 95.

The other arm it! of the bell crank 96 is connected to one end of a link I58. The connection is effected through a headed pin I89 that is held in place by a nut iIIi, there being a frictionless bearing 5 ii between the pin 46%) and the link [58.

The outer end of the link 88 is mounted by a screw H2 to a slide, generally indicated at H3, there being a frictionless bearing I M to provide for free rocking of the link N38 with respect to the slide H3. It will appear that the slide H3 is divided into a main slide and a cover plate, and that the connecting rocking pin H2 is fastened onto the cover plate.

Figure 22 shows that the casting 45 has a large fiat table-like projection H5 to the right in that view of the drawings, which has two fianging walls H6 and 2 IT. These two walls appear at the opposite ends of the views in Figurse 12 and Two guide rods H8 and H9 extend across between the walls H5 and H7. The rods H8 and I59 are firmly secured and stabilized. The slide H3 is mounted on the two rods H8 and I I9 so as to reciprocate back and forth on them.

The slide I it includes a bottom portion I and a cover i2l. The bottom portion is essentially a hollowed-out casting, and is provided with four bearings i22, 23, I24 and I25 that ride on the two bars H8 and H9, as indicated in Figure 13. A preferred type of bearing is a linear ball bearing, since this reduces friction.

A fixed piston 123 is mounted at one end in the wall Ill so as to have a rigid mounting and to project across the main support 45 above the table H5 thereof. This piston has a passage I29 axially through it that may connect with a suitable air pressure pipe I39. The slide bottom portion I 20 has a cylinder sleeve i3! mounted in it, as shown in Figure 13, this preferably being a relatively thin seamless tube. The end of the sleeve 3| is flanged over and a bolted cap I32 secures the sleeve in position and seals the end of it. The other end of the sleeve fits over the end of the fixed piston I28 and seals therewith. As will be apparent, the admission of air under pressure through the tube 135 and the passage I29 in the fixed piston I28 will put air pres- .8 sure insidethe cylindrical sleeve I3I and will yieldably urge the slide II3 to the leftward position illustrated in Figure 13. Reference to Figure 1 will show that this yieldable pneumatic force urges the bell crank 96 so as to maintain its roller I02 against the cam 95.

The slide cover I2I is bolted to the slide carriage I20 as is illustrated in Figure 1. The upper surface of the slide cover has a boss I36 projecting above it to receive the mounting for the link I98. This boss is connected by a web I31 that extends along the upper surface of the cover and merges in a transverse more or less semicylindrical boss I38.

The boss I38 has an enlarged circular opening Mil extending into it (Figures 12 and 14). A reduced opening I4I forms a continuation of one end of the enlarged opening M8, the opening Mi passing through an end wall I42 of the boss A circular mandrel I44 is shaped to fit within the opening I40. A pin and slot arrangement I 55 holds the mandrel against rotation about its own axis and limits its movement to axial movement in and out of the opening Ito. The mandrel may be adjusted in and out by an adjusting screw I45 which has a reduced, shouldered portion fitting through the opening MI in the end wall Hi2, which portion permits rotation but prevents axial movement of the screw. A handle as? on the end of the screw M6 provides for turning of the screw. The inner end of the screw its is threaded through an end wall of the man drel 54, and opens into a recess I28 extending inwardly from the opposite end of the mandrel, so that rotation of the handle l4! moves the mandrel in and out, the mandrel being held against rotation by the pin I45.

In order to lock the mandrel in adjusted position, there is a sleeve type clamping lock of which the details are shown in Figure 15, but with other figures on the same sheet illustrative of other phases of this look.

The end Wall I42 of the boss I38 has a transverse hole 158 extending through it. This hole partly intersects the hole I4I and is at right angles to that hole so that the upper part of the reduced portion of the adjusting screw I46 extends into the transverse opening I553, as shown especially in Figure 15. Two complementary clamping sleeves I5I and I52 ar shaped to fit closely within the opening I56. They are separated over the screw I46 and have arcuate complementary cut-outs I53 and I54 (Figure 26), which arcuate cut-outs are on the same radius as the shouldered portion of the screw I45. A clamping screw I55 has a knob I55 on its outer end, and it has a shank that passes through the sleeve I52 and is threaded'into the sleeve I 5|. It can be seen from Figure 15 that, when the handle I56 is turned up, the two sleeves I5I and I52 will be clamped together between the threading, and the hub of the handle I55. By this means, the mandrel may be adjusted and locked in adjusted position.

The mandrel is the supporting connection be tween the slide H3 and the tube engaging jaw means. A short shaft I60 is retained within the hollow mandrel for rocking movement therein by a frictionless bearing IGI', the bearing here shown as being of the ball type. The shaft I59 receives at its outer end a fixed clamping jaw element iGI (see particularly Figures 1, 2, 14 and 28). Figure 28 shows that the jaw It! has a bore I62 into which the end of the shaft I60 is aecasae fastened. A setscrew I63 is provided to secure the jaw member I6I firmly onto the shaft I60. There is also a cross bore I64 in the jaw member I6I to receive a detent for a purpose to appear, and the jaw member includes an arcuate arm I65. A bore I66 is formed in this arm I65, and receives a pin I6? for a purpose to appear. The jaw member I6I is provided with hinge ears I68.

A complementary jaw member I'I0, shown in Figure 1, and shown in detail in Figure 27, is hinged to the jaw member I6 I. It has hinge ears III that interfit with the ears I68 on the jaw member I6I; and a hinge pin II2 passes down through the four hinge ears to hinge the jaw members together.

The jaw member I70 has a detent recess I14 in one of its hinge ears III, as shown in Figures 16 and 27. When the jaw members are hinged together, and are in closed position shown in Figure 1, the recess I14 is disposed at the end of the cross bore I64 of the jaw member I6I. A detent plug I75 is slidable within the bore I64, it being urged into detent position by a coil spring I16 that is held by a plug I11 threaded into the end of the bore I64. By this arrangement, the two jaws are held normally in a closed position wherein their inner edges form a, continuous arc. A bushing that is substantially circular, as illustrated at I80 (see Figure 29), fits between the two jaws, and it has a flange I8I that is notched on one side at I82. This notch I82 fits against the pin I61 to stabilize the bushing I80 against rotation, but it will permit the jaws to open away from the bushing. The bushing I80 is sized to receive the guide tube 35, and to move with it. By the foregoing arrangement, the guide tube may be moved (upwardly in Figure 1) away from the fixed jaw I6I, swinging the movable jaw I10, the bushing I80 staying with the guide tube. For normal operation, the detent arrangement prevents such separation of the guide tube from the jaws. Also, it will be seen that the shaft I60, being rockable in the mandrel I 44, can follow the angular swinging movements of the guide tube 35 as the jaws I6I and I10 slide along the guide tube to permit the reciprocal movement of the slide II 3 to produce the rocking movements of the tube 35.

Operation In initially installing the machine, the column M is mounted in fixed relationship to the guide tube, which, in turn, has a fixed relationship with the molds M that rotate on the mold table. The shaft 42, by means of the driving connection 43, is connected to a power means that is either the same as or synchronized with the power means that drives the mold table, so that one cycle of the guide tube swinging means occupies the same time interval as that consumed by the mold table in moving each successive mold past a given point. The tube 35 is adjusted so that it swings properly to conduct the glass charges from the shears 31 of the feeder to the molds M as they move into position. The bushing I8I is slipped over the tube 35 and fitted into the two jaws.

With the tube depending over one of the molds M, the mandrel I44 is adjusted to move the tube engaging means, the jaws I6I and I70, in or out (with respect to the slide I I3), so that the end of the tube has the proper position radially of the mold table. This adjustment is attained by first releasing the clamping knob I56 so that the two clamping sleeves I5! and I52 are freed from the screw I46. Then the handle I4! is turned to move the mandrel in or out to the proper posi- 10 tion. After proper position is obtained, the handle I56 is again turned to tighten the two clamping sleeves I5I and I52 firmly against the screw I46 so that the mandrel is secured against axial movement.

Forward and backward movements of the slide H3 and the lower end of the guide tube 35 are obtained by the combination of the cam 95 and the compressible air force within the slide cylinder I3 I. The lower end of the guide tube 35 must swing across the top of the mold M as that mold moves across its charging position. Of course, the mold M is moving in an arcuate direction so that the tangential movement of the lower end of the guide tube 35 must intersect the arc of movement of the mold M substantially at the discharge point. As the molding machine is fairly large in diameter, there is, for practical purposes, a line of intersection of the tangential movement of the lower end of the tube 35 and the arcuate movement of the mold end.

Reference to Figure 1 will show that the cam member 95 is designed to have a rather abrupt rise from a starting position which is the middle of its concave edge portion. After such rise, the cam edge is such as to produce a somewhat slower advance of the tube 35. This means that the slide II3 will start at the position of Figures 12 and 13 (which would appear as a lowermost position in Figure 1). When the cam advances beyond the first abrupt portion, its subsequent edge parts will act upon the bell crank arm 96 to cause the slide to advance more slowly.- The limit of the forward movement of the lower end of the guide tube is determined by the pressure of the air on the piston.

The slide H3 is always normally urged in its backward direction by the continuous maintenance of air under pressure within the cylinder I3I. Thus the cam roller I02 is maintained against the edge of the cam 95. Since the air is compressible, the carriage or slide II3 may be moved forwardly under the positive action of the cam.

The cam action thus quickly advances the lower end of the tube 35, and then more slowly advances it to cause it to move along with the mold. The extreme forward movement does not change direction rapidly, a condition that makes synchronization easier, and that prevents accidental slight de-synchronization from causing bad accidents of production.

In order to adjust the point of synchronization of the rocking movements of the guide tube 35 with the molds M, the handle 92 may be turned while the machine is operating. If the handle 92 is turned, the worm 9I will move the worm gear 6| about its axis as it appears in Figures '7 and 8. This willcause the two rings and B2 to move arcuately together with the gear 6|. The planetary type gears I5, 16, TI and I8 will be caused to rotate about theiraxes. The two planetary type gears15 and I6 will rotate about their axes 83 and 84, while rolling over the edge of the driving gear 14. They will transmit such rotation to the two gears I1 and I8, which will thereby produce more or less rotation of the driven gear I9 than that imparted by the rotation of the shaft 42 and the driving gear I4. As a result, the cam will be displaced angularly with respect to the shaft 42, and thereby the position of the slide II3 will be changed so that it can be synchronized with the rotation of the mold table. By this means, a very accurate point of synchronization can be obtained because of the ability to synchronize while the machine is operating and also because the gear trains lend to very close adjustment.

In Figure 1, it is assumed that the mold tables would rotate about an axis to the right of the figure, and so that the molds move upward with respect to Figure 1. This means that the mold M in Figure 2 is moving away from the observer. If some part on the mold table unexpectedly projects out so that it strikes the tube 35 in a manner that tends to displace the tube 35 other than the displacement normally given to it by the slide H3, the force thus applied to the tube will be great enough to overcome the detent spring I16 acting upon the detent plug H5. Then the recess 116 on the movable jaw member H5 is withdrawn from the spherical head of the plug I and the movable jaw I10 swings about its pivot pin I'M, opening the jaws and permitting the tube 35 to be moved by the obstructive force, regardless of the cam and pneumatic action on the slide H3. In this action, the bushing 80 stays with the guide tube 35, it being permitted to withdraw from the fixed jaw member [6! because the notch I82 does not embrace the pin I61. By this arrangement, the guide tube operating means is saved from damage and the guide tube itself is likewise saved from injury.

Should an obstruction or some part of the molding machine strike the fixed jaw member IBI, or any other part of the head, so that the parts cannot be freed by the opening of the jaws as aforesaid, the obstructive force will apply a torsion seeking to twist the entire head about the column. Such a force will shear the shear plate 51 so that the head may swivel about the axis of the column as provided by the sleeve 44 and the bearing 46. The force will merely move the head out of its path. As the head of the guide tube operating means moves about the axis of the column, it will tend to withdraw the jaw members from the guide tube 35. The jaw members being held closed only by the detent will open and release the guide tube so that the head can swing out of the way. The guide tube itself can then swing freely about its trunnions 36, so that it is not damaged by the obstructive force.

Also, this removal or twisting of the head of the guide tube operating means will withdraw the depending arm 62 on the shear plate block 52 from the switch button 63, so that the driving motor for the machine is deenergized before further damage can be caused.

It will be seen that the damaging forces are accommodated without injury to the various components of the machine. The arrangement is one that permits a drive through the movable parts, an operation that is accommodated by the planetary type adjusting gearing. After such action, it is ordinarily necessary to only restore the parts to proper positions, and replace the shear plate in order to start again in operation.

Furthermore, this arrangement permits the use of a very rigid construction for the operation of the slide itself. The slide is rigidly guided by the two bars H8 and H9, and its friction is maintained at a minimum by the type of bearings used at i22l24, which, as noted, preferably may be of the linear ball bearing type. The use of rigid slide supports also permits the use of a relatively thin seamless tube for the cylinder 13!, since this tube has a minimum of bearing requirements. With the seamless tube cylinder,

replacements can be effected readily and as required.

The arcuate movement of the tube 35 requires a rocking movement of the bushing I30. With the present construction, this can be accommodated by the bearing Nil, which desirably may be a type that provides a minimum of friction and yet a stable construction for a cantilever type of mounting.

It will be evident that a guide tube operating means has been provided that is extremely flexible in its operation and mounting, which is thoroughly strong and stable, and yet which can accommodate any of the accidents predictable in its use in connection with a rotating mold table. It imparts the proper lateral component of movement to the descending charge of glass so that it will move cleanly into the bottom of the mold cavity.

What is claimed is:

1. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering glass charges to molds, a support, a head, means mounting the head on the support for movement on the support, releasable means holding the head against movement on the support, means movably mounted on the head and having guide tube engaging means for imparting movement to the guide tube, driving means on the support, connecting, power-delivering means between the driving means and the movably mounted means on the support, said connecting means having driving parts that remain in driving connection despite movement of the head on the support as aforesaid.

2. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a support, guide tube engaging means on the support, locking means releasably maintaining the guide tube engaging means in operating connection with the guide tube, and means for moving the guide tube engaging means to eifect movements of the guide tube with movements of the engaging means, said locking means including resilient yieldable means having sufficient strength to maintain said operating connection during normal operations of the guide tube engaging means, but yieldable to free said connection when abnormal forces are applied to the guide tube.

3. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a support, guide tube engaging means on the support, yieldable means releasably maintaining the guide tube engaging means in operating connection with the guide tube, and means for moving the guide tube engaging means to efifect movements of the guide tube with movements of the engaging means, said yieldable means having sufficient strength to maintain said operating connection during normal operations of the guide tube engaging means, but yieldable to free said connection when abnormal forces are applied to the guide tube, said guide tube engaging means including an arm projecting into the path of, and embracing, the guide tube, a pivot connection for the arm, said yieldable means including a detent device for holding a section of said arm in operating position, but yieldable to enable the arm to swing out of the path of the tube.

4. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a support, guide tube engaging means on the support, yieldable means releasably maintaining the guide tube engaging means in operating connection with the guide tube, and means for moving the guide tube engaging means to effect movements'of the guide tube with movements of the engaging means, said yieldable means having sufficient strength to maintain said operating-connection during normal operations of the guide tube engaging means, but yieldable to free said connection when abnormal forces are applied to the guide tube, means pivotally mounting the guide tube engaging means on the support, and releasable holding means for releasably maintaining the guide tube engaging means against pivoting relative to its support.

5. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a support, guide tube engaging means on the support, yieldable means releasably maintaining the guide tube engaging means in operating connection with the guide tube, and means for moving the guide tube engaging means to effect movements of the guide tube with movements of the engaging means, said yieldable means having sufficient strength to maintain said operating connection during normal operations of the guide tube engaging means, but yieldable to free said connection when abnormal forces are applied to the guide tube, means pivotally mounting the guide tube engaging means on the support, and releasable holding means for releasably maintaining the guide tube engaging means against pivoting relative to its support, the holding releasable means comprising a shearable element connected between the pivotal mounting means and the support.

6. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, means mounting the head on the base for swinging movement of the head, shearable means releasably holding the head in operating position against swinging and adapted to shear upon the application of abnormal forces tending to swing the head, and guide tube moving means mounted on the head for movement thereon.

7. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, means mounting the head on the base for swinging movement of the head, yieldable means holding the head in operating position againstlswinging, guide tube moving means mounted on the head for movement thereon, an electrically actuated driving motor operatively connected to said guide tube moving means, and switch means for said motor adapted to be opened when the guide tube moving means swings from operating position.

8. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movemen of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis.

9. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the. head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis, said adjusting means including concentric gears connected respectively to the two shafts, and including at least one intermediate gear between the two gears, it having its separate shaft, and means for displacing the separate shaft about the common axis of the concentric gears."

10. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a'base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis, said adjusting means including concentric gears connected respectively to the two shafts, and including at least one intermediate gear between the two gears, it having its separate shaft, and means for displacing the separate shaft about the common axis of the concentric gears, said displacing means having a ring concentric with the common axis, upon which the separate shaft is mounted, and means for imparting angular adjusting movements to the ring.

11. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head,.a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis, said adjusting means including concentric gears connected respectively to the two shafts, and including at least one intermediate gear between the two gears, it having its separate shaft, and means for displacing the separate shaft about the common axis of the concentric gears, the head having a gear case in which said gears are contained, a ring mounted near the driving shaft gear and concentric therewith, a ring mounted near the driven shaft gear and con-' centric therewith, means connecting the rings for conjoint angular movement about the common axis, the separate shaft being mounted on the two rings to support the intermediate gear between them.

12. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own' axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its ownaxis, the adjusting means including concentric gears connected to the driving anddriven shafts respectively, a separate gear meshed with the driving gear, another separate gear meshed with the first separate gear and with the driven gear, means mounting the two separate gears for adjustment together around the common axis of the concentric gears.

13. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis, said adjusting means including concentric gears connected respectively to the two shafts, and includ ing at least one intermediate gear between the two gears, it having its separate shaft, and means for displacing the separate shaft about the common axis of the concentric gears, the head having a gear case in which said gears are contained, a ring mounted near the driving shaft gear and concentric therewith, a ring mounted near the driven shaft gear and concentric therewith, means connecting the rings for conjoint angular movement about the common axis, the separate shaft being mounted on the two rings to support the intermediate gear between them, and means extending through to the outside of the gear case to move the rings.

14. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis, said adjusting means including concentric gears connnected respectively to the two shafts, and including at least one intermediate gear between the two gears, it having its separate shaft, and means for displacing the separate shaft about the common axis of the concentric gears, means mounting the head for angular movement on the base about the said common axis, and yieldable means holding the head against such movement.

15. In a guide tube moving means for displacing a guide tube for directing glass charges into a moving mold; movable means engageable with a guide tube for displacing it, and yieldable supporting means for holding the movable means in operating position, said yieldable supporting means including a shearable element adapted to shear under abnormal forces tending to displace the yieldable supporting means.

16. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means mounted for movement on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head and connected with the guide tube moving means to move the same in a predetermined cycle, and adjusting means operable during movement of the driving shaft for adjusting the driven shaft about its .own axis relatively to any particular angular position of rotation of the driven shaft with respect to its own axis, said adjusting means including concentric gears connected respectively to the two shafts, and including at least one intermediate gear between the two gears, it having its separate shaft, and means for displacing the separate shaft about the common axis of the concentric gears, there being a cam operated by the driven shaft, and the guide tube moving means including a device movable back and forth in a predetermined path; acam follower connected between the device and the cam, and yieldable means to urge the follower against the cam.

1'7. In a guide tube moving means; a base, a device mounted on the base for reciprocatory motion in a path of predetermined correspondence with an angular path of a mold, guide tube holding means mounted for free rocking movement on the device and projecting therefrom, and means for adjusting the guide tube holding means to project different distances with respect to the device.

18. In a guide tube moving means; a base, a device mounted on the base for reciprocatory motion in a path of predetermined correspondence with an angular path of a mold, guide tube holding means mounted on the device and projecting therefrom, and means for adjusting the guide tube holding means to project different distances with respect to the device, said guide tube holding means including two jaw-like elements pivoted together to close alongside the guide tube, at least one of the elements being swingable to an open position to free the guide tube, and means yieldably holding the elements closed.

19. In a guide tube moving means; a base, a device mounted on the base for reciprocatory motion in a path of predetermined correspondence with an angular path of a mold, guide tube holding means reciprocably mounted on the device and projecting therefrom, and means for adjusting the guide tube holding means to project difierent distances with respect to the device, the adjusting means comprising a screw connection between the device and the guide tube holding means for reciprocating the latter on the former.

20. In a guide tube moving means; a base, a device mounted on the base for reciprocatory motion in a path of predetermined correspondence with an angular path of a mold; guide tube holding means including a mandrel reciprocably mounted in the device, and means for adjusting the mandrel with respect to the device, the adjusting means comprising a screw connection between the device and the mandrel for reciprocating the mandrel in the device, the mandrel having an opening therein, the guide tube holding means further including a shaft extending into said opening, bearing means in the opening providing for rockable support of the shaft in the mandrel, and guide tube engaging means on the shaft.

21. In a guide tube moving means; a base, a device mounted on the base for reciprocatory motion in a path of predetermined correspondence with an angular path of a mold, guide tube holding means mounted on the device and pro ,iecting therefrom, and means for adjusting the guide tube holding means to project different distances with respect to the device, the guide tube holding means including two jaw-like ele- 17 ments pivoted together to close alongside the guide tube, at least one of the elements being swingable to an open position to free the guide tube, means yieldably holding the elements closed, a guide tube embracing bushing between said jaw-like elements, and means holding the bushing against rotation on the elements, said latter means being adapted to free the bushing from the elements upon opening of the elements.

22. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means including a slide mounted for reciprocatory motion onthe head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head, and means connecting the driven shaft with said slide for controlled reciprocation of the latter in accordance with a predetermined cycle Of movement.

23. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means including a slide mounted for reciprocatory motion on the head,

a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the 9 head, means connecting the driven shaft with said slide for controlled reciprocation of the latter in accordance with a predetermined cycle of movement, and fluid pressure means mounted on the head and connected with the slide for biasing the slide in one direction of its reciprocatory motion.

24. In a guide tube operating machine for imparting back and forth movements to a guide tube for delivering charges to molds, a base, a head, guide tube moving means including a slide mounted for reciprocatory motion on the head, a driving shaft on the base, a driven shaft on the head, means including a cam connecting the driven shaft with said slide, and fluid pressure means mounted on the head and connected with the slide, said fluid pressure means being adapted to move said slide in one direction of reciprocatory motion and said cam means being adapted both to move said slide in the other direction of reciprocatory motion and to control the velocity of movement in the one direction of reciprocatory motion.

HAROLD A. YOUKERS. WALTER V. VIERLING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

